Outlaws

The plots weren't really all that great when you get right down to it.

What I really watched it for, for the few weeks it lasted, was the character interaction and the excellent actors who worked on the series.

I've always enjoyed Christine Belford since her days on "Banacek"; Rod Taylor, of course, has always been a joy (where is he lately?); William Lucking I liked from the time I saw him playing Babe Ruth in an episode of "Voyagers!" in the 80s; Charles Napier is one of those faces most recognize without knowing who he is (anyone remember him playing Adam in the episode The Way to Eden on Star Trek?); Richard Roundtree has remained one of my favorite actors over the years; and Patrick Houser managed to hold his own among all those illustrious performers.

Every so often I pull out my tapes and revisit this silly guilty pleasure just for fun.

I loved the series, however, short lived. I to this day can't figure out why people didn't watch it. I guess at the time people wasn't interested in westerns. I loved Patrick Houser. I wonder what he's doing now, haven't seen him in anything.

OK, call me a freak, a devoted lover, a guy who lives the nostalgia powerfully, or call me all of that together. Simply, I have a theory that says something about the TV at an era named the 1980s. I'll cut to the chase, presenting my point of view with enough proofs that that era was childishly funny, innocently entertaining, and boldly imaginative more than any other era I know. Whether these TV shows worked or not, just speculate on their ideas well:

An ex-cop battles the forces of evil with the help of supercar (Knight Rider - 1982). A 1930's Pacific islands bush pilot plunges into adventures (Tales of the Gold Monkey - 1982). A married couple co-run their own private-detective agency, the wife's superpowers are a tremendous asset in solving cases (Tucker's Witch - 1982). A man, who can change himself into any animal, fights crime (Manimal - 1983). A secret agent uses no guns, armed with only scouts' resourcefulness (MacGyver - 1985). Scientist finds himself trapped in time leaping into the body of a different person in a different time period each week (Quantum Leap - 1989). OH MY GOD, have you ever seen anything like that before?!

At such a time, you find real matchless experiences with no precedent at all, for instance (The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd - 1987) the first sitcom that, from its original conception, did not have an audience, and did not have a laugh track. Or (Cop Rock - 1990) the only cop series in history to have been based on a Broadway musical format. So why not to have a show that mixes: the western, time travel, and the detective stories in one form under the name of (Outlaws). Again that was made in 1986, and let's say 1986 only, because I didn't run into such crazy ideas much around any era except that adorable decade.

I believe the production companies' bosses were much adventurous back then, being a bit creative persons themselves, convinced in the methods of entertaining the viewer yet stylishly. So that what made their work a classic fun and fresh chimera hitherto, and without any comparing to nowadays' TV which the most of it stands aside and falls flat apart!

Surely the fancy premise is super. I'm already in love with the time travel theme, so how about a magnificent 6, from Texas 1899, who find themselves living in our modern life, solving crimes in their own unique ways. We saw detective agencies that was run by a private investigator young man (Spenser: For Hire - 1985), ex-marine and ex-lawyer brothers (Simon & Simon - 1981), ex-model and insane detective (Moonlighting - 1985), or 3 police academy graduate girls (Charlie's Angels - 1976), but never with a 6 stiff REAL cowboys from the 19th century before!

Yes, Rod Taylor, William Lucking, Patrick Houser, Charles Napier, Richard Roundtree, Christina Belford weren't my dream cast, but they harmonized well. True that it suffered from main vice whereas there were no explanations or whatsoever for lots of ironies concerning the time travel and other issues, but I surrendered to its different tone, having the biggest kick out of the idea itself; which's - despite some weakness - a dazzling one.

(Outlaws) is the kind of shows that you watch while the sky is gray-clouded, you're under your quilt, and the hot chocolate is right beside you. Ahh.. It's the 1980s ladies and gentlemen, where the ideas were too original, and the enjoyment was wild.

Yeah, I saw it. I remember it as being quirky and unusual. It's a slick joke including Rod Taylor in the cast of time travelers, and the Lieutenant was one tough hombre herself. I even recall one memorable scene when the cowboys just take their time and shoot down these guys with Uzis. The commentary suggested that you had to aim first before shooting. Very enjoyable.

"Outlaws" was a very charming show while it lasted. It was the "A-Team" with Western attire and time-travel mixed in. Maybe the upcoming Summer 2011 movie "Cowboys & Aliens" will have the same Western-plus-SF charm.

Things I remember:

Rod Taylor talking ruefully about how everyone he ever knew (a century ago) was now dead and buried.

Also, the time the team rented horses at an urban-park riding stable so they could chase the fleeing bad guys: "Now don't run the horses," the stable manager admonished. "Yeah, right," our heroes replied before galloping off at top speed. (Because horses are for running. Every horse person knows that.)

But the thing I liked best in "Outlaws" was the music score by Joseph Conlan. It was an exceptional Western score, with many facets--rousing action, wistfulness, Americana. I always try to champion this score, and hope someday one of the soundtrack CD companies specializing in old scores will give it a chance.